Professionalisation of health services management mapping and the role of the education sector: scoping review

Article type
Authors
Daire J1
1Curtin University
Abstract
Background: There has been increasing recognition in the importance of healthcare management in improving health service performance and strengthening the capacity of healthcare systems. However, healthcare management has yet to be formally accepted as an occupation with clear professional standards. The pathways by which countries may develop to sustain a high performing healthcare management workforce is fragmented with focus on different aspects of management and professional competency requirements. In order to inform the establishment of health service management as a formal profession, the current efforts in providing training and development opportunities and requirements for health service managers need to be fully understood.

Objectives: Mapping the theoretical concepts, models and frameworks of management and leadership development in globally, this study aims to develop a guiding frame of what ‘healthcare management profession’ would look like and key aspects incorporated in advancing professionalisation of healthcare management globally. The study will also clarify the role of education sector and professional associations in improving education and practice of health management.

Methods: Document analysis on Master of Health Administration programs globally and systematic review of both peer reviewed and grey literature published in the past 10 years using a PRISMA methodology. Relevant peer reviewed articles will be searched from Emerald, ProQuest, Scopus and Google Scholar. The key words include; healthcare, health services, management, leadership, and health administration. Information will be extracted from eligible articles using a data extraction sheet both descriptively and thematically

Results: Document analysis and systematic review will be conducted between April and June. Initial results of the analysis will be available by early July in time for presentation and discussion at the SHAPE Symposium. The purpose of the presentation is to discuss the initial findings and further research questions and directions. The experience from the co-author in conducting management competency studies in Australia and other Asia pacific countries and also the brief review of the literature conducted by the corresponding author confirm the strong demand in professionalising the health service management workforce. Examples can be the increasing research interests in health service management and competency development, the establishment of health management professional associations, and the newly developed and validated management competency frameworks to guide management practice and education

Conclusions:

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: